BAD oil change story

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LAGA

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I get a call from my buddy the other night. His son took his 01 Bullitt Mustang out of storage for a drive around the neighborhood and it stopped running about two blocks from my house. As I pull out of my driveway I notice a dark stain on the street, it runs the entire length of the block. This a`int looking good. I find the car and the bottom of the engine is soaked with oil and the dipstick shows nothing. He says the engine just stopped and he did not hear anything before it happened. As we are pushing the car back to his house, I`m asking questions to find out what happened. Bottom line is that the son changed the oil before the car was put away for the winter and the gasket of the old oil filter got stuck on the block and he put the new one on top of it. He ran the car around the block before parking it and it did not leak. We install the filter correctly, and add oil and the car will turn over but will not start. Just got a call from him and the mechanic says the engine is toast. Damage is in the valve train for sure and he will have to pull bottom end to check bearings.
So be sure to check to see if the gasket comes off with the filter or this is what can happen. I don`t know the brand of the filter but gaskets sticking to the block is somewhat common as I have seen it happen a couple of times on various cars and trucks with different brands of filters.
 
I'll admit this has happened to me one time in my oil changing life. Changed the oil on a Toyota, with original/new Toyota filter. Started the car, got out to check for leaks. I saw a decent sized puddle of oil. Shut off the car immediately, took off the filter and found my mistake. No damage because I caught it early.

Lessons learned, check the removed filter, clean the area where the gasket makes contact with a shop towel and check for leaks. Luckily, I did the latter and caught my mistake.

Tough way for the son to learn those lessons.
 
Ouch...

I always look where the oil filter goes to make sure that it's ready for a new filter. I also check the old filter for the gasket...

I run the car after the change and let it run while I pour the oil into the disposal container etc. To give it enough time to cause a leak.

I also make sure that my new filter is half-turn tightened with a filter wrench to ensure a good seal.
 
At my shop we have a procedure where we have to wipe off the base plate with a rag before putting on a new filter. This way if the gasket from the old filter is left on, we notice it.
 
When are they holding the Funeral for the son?
grin2.gif
 
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He drove the car around the block before parking it for the winter and there were no leaks.
 
I bought an old 67? Chevy truck for hauling wood once, it was a rusty bucket, 3 on the column, would often stick in 3rd and took two people to get it out. When I changed oil it had a cartridge that went into a can, and I found about 3 o-rings stuck up in it. It didn't seem to leak though. They were hard to get out. It was a 327, and it would pull a load. Unfortunately it had trouble stopping, as the brake lines kept springing leaks. That was exciting!
 
That's why I always check the filter for the gasket.

As a matter of fact, I just bought my Mark VIII and changed the oil yesterday. The guy had it serviced at jiffy lube and I pulled the Pennzoil filter, gasket wasn't there, still stuck on the engine.

I agree, always check the filter for the gasket.
 
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Didn't mean for my post to sound condescending, if it did. Probably like me, it had never happened before so he didn't look for it.

If he drove it around the block with no leak before parking it, that's some bad luck there.
 
I just came back from their house. The kid is just sick about it. They have decided to replace the motor and are now shopping the net for a replacement. I will be checking the Mustang forums to help find a similar engine.
 
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Ouch...

I always look where the oil filter goes to make sure that it's ready for a new filter. I also check the old filter for the gasket...

I run the car after the change and let it run while I pour the oil into the disposal container etc. To give it enough time to cause a leak.

I also make sure that my new filter is half-turn tightened with a filter wrench to ensure a good seal.


A leak from a doubled filter gasket could take weeks to show up, but the result is usually the same.
 
I almost did this once. I couldnt see the base plate on this vehicle so I rubbed it to check for the gasket. There was none (so I thought). I screwed on the new filter and it would not tighten up. There was resistance but it didnt feel like it was seating. So I pulled the filter back off and the old gasket came off with it.
 
the only thing different about the Bullitt motors is the intake manifold, so they can get any replacement longblock. i think those are Romeo built, as there were a couple years of mustangs around there that had both Romeo and Windsor built 4.6L motors.

o and that really sucks to have a failure like that, i always wipe off the mounting surface and check the old filter. there were a few occasions where i would find a gasket on the surface and on the old filter.
 
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